It was a sunny morning in the small, cheerful house where little Sumi lived with her family. The sunbeams streamed through the window, touching the kitchen table where breakfast had just finished. Mom was washing dishes, Dad was reading the newspaper, and in the corner, baby monkey Lala sat in her small wooden chair, waiting for her bottle of milk.
Sumi loved helping. She was only a child, but her heart was big, and she always wanted to make things easier for Mom. When she saw the warm bottle of milk ready on the counter, she quickly said, “Don’t worry, Mom! I’ll bring it to Lala!” Her eyes shone with determination, and Mom, smiling at her eagerness, said gently, “Alright, Sumi, but be careful. Hold it with both hands.”
Sumi nodded, her little pigtails bouncing. She reached for the bottle, wrapped her fingers tightly around it, and began her careful walk toward baby Lala. Lala saw her coming and clapped her tiny hands, excited for her milk. “Eee! Eee!” the baby monkey squealed, bouncing on the chair with joy.
But then—oh dear!—the floor had just been cleaned, and there was still a slippery patch near the table. Sumi stepped on it without noticing. Her foot slid, her balance wobbled, and in a flash, whoosh!—she slipped!
The milk bottle flew from her hands, spinning in the air like a little rocket. “Ahhh!” Sumi gasped, reaching out helplessly. But it was too late. Clink! The bottle hit the floor, and warm milk splashed everywhere.
For a second, the room froze. Sumi sat on the floor, wide-eyed, her cheeks turning red. She looked at Mom, at Dad, and finally at Lala. The baby monkey tilted her head, confused, then reached down with her finger to touch the spilled milk. “Eee?” Lala murmured, as if asking, Where’s my bottle?
Then, suddenly, Lala burst into giggles! She dipped both little hands into the milk puddle and began smearing it on the floor like finger paint. “Eee-eee-eee!” she squealed with delight. The serious accident instantly turned into a game for her.
Sumi, however, felt tears prick her eyes. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to drop it,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Her heart sank, thinking she had disappointed everyone.
Mom rushed over, knelt beside her, and wiped Sumi’s cheek gently. “Oh, sweetheart, it’s alright,” Mom said warmly. “You slipped. Accidents happen. What matters is that you’re not hurt.”
Dad chuckled softly, folding his newspaper. “And look at Lala! She thinks it’s playtime!” Indeed, the baby monkey was happily smearing milk across the floor, leaving little handprints everywhere.
Sumi looked at Lala and couldn’t help but laugh through her tears. The sight of her baby sister having so much fun made her forget her embarrassment. “She looks like she’s painting!” Sumi giggled.
Mom sighed with a smile. “Well, now we’ll need to clean this up together.” She handed Sumi a towel, and they started wiping the floor. Lala squealed again, trying to grab the towel too, as if she wanted to help.
The cleanup turned into a family moment. Dad joined in, teasing, “I’ll be the inspector! No milk puddle left behind!” He pointed out tiny drops like a detective, and Sumi laughed each time he exaggerated his serious face.
Once the floor was spotless again, Mom warmed up another bottle of milk. But this time, she placed it directly in Lala’s hands while she sat safely in her chair. Lala happily drank, her little face glowing with satisfaction.
Sumi watched and whispered, “I’ll be more careful next time.”
Mom hugged her and said, “I know you will. But remember, Sumi, even if you make a mistake, we’ll always love you.”
That reassurance lit up Sumi’s heart. She realized that being helpful wasn’t about being perfect—it was about caring.
But the story didn’t end there. Later that afternoon, Sumi had an idea. She brought out some crayons and a big piece of paper. Sitting on the floor with Lala beside her, she began to draw the scene: herself slipping, the bottle flying, milk splashing everywhere, and Lala clapping with joy. She even added little hearts around the picture.
When she showed it to Mom and Dad, they laughed warmly. “That’s beautiful, Sumi! You’ve turned an accident into a memory,” Dad said proudly.
Lala, noticing her picture-self on the paper, pressed her tiny hand onto the drawing and left a real handprint beside it—almost as if signing her approval. Sumi beamed. “Now we’ll never forget today,” she said.
That night, before bed, Sumi whispered to Lala, “You’re such a silly baby, but I love you.” Lala curled up beside her, already half-asleep, clutching her soft toy. Sumi felt peace in her heart, knowing that even though she slipped and dropped the bottle, she had shared laughter, love, and togetherness with her family.
The milk might have spilled, but the memory filled their home with warmth. ❤️😍
